Results 6,661-6,680 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: The Gathering (27 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is well aware of the comments on The Gathering by the former culture ambassador, Mr. Gabriel Byrne. His main comment was that The Gathering has been presented in such a way that it sounds as if we are just trying to make money from the diaspora. Given that so many people have left the country under terrible conditions in recent times, they may find the manner in which The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Semi-State Sector Remuneration (27 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he tried to breach the €250,000 pay cap for the new Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Airport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52681/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (27 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Health the amount of State funding given to the Irish Patients' Association and Patient Focus in each of the years 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012. [52191/12]

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (22 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: I fully agree with the Minister's point about training and apprenticeship schemes in the manufacturing sector. The success of manufacturing after the Second World War was very much based around major investment in training and apprenticeship schemes. However, the Government should consider imposing measures to compel different sections of industry to improve themselves in this respect. In...

Other Questions: Retail Sector (22 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister of State stated that there were too many retail units anyway. With seven a day going out of business in Ireland at present, I would say that we have gone past the mark at this stage of what should be sustainable. Returning to finance and the retail sector, should I take it from the Minister of State's last reply that we should forget about the strategic investment bank? He...

Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (22 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is probably aware that five months into his time in government President Hollande of France has fulfilled his election promise of setting up a strategic investment bank which is making €42 billion available to small and medium sized businesses. I asked the Taoiseach yesterday the position regarding our strategic bank and he said it was ongoing. When I said that nearly...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Bodies (22 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason behind the decision to abolish the office of the Chief Scientific Adviser; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51812/12]

Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: I commend Sinn Féin on tabling the motion. While some accused it of opportunism, if the party had not tabled the motion, it probably would have been accused of cowardice. It is hard to win sometimes. I will use my time to analyse the recent statement issued by the Standing Committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. I take issue with the view that the current state of...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: The Taoiseach said he would raise the issue with other EU heads of Government in the coming two days. The desire to deprive people of infrastructure has a genocidal edge to it. This is something our Government should not put up with and we should raise our voice about it. The US, Britain and other European powers finance, arm and back Israel's occupation, including the siege of Gaza, to...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: If the citizens of Europe were asked today if they thought they are being treated in a fair manner by governments in Europe, I believe a large majority would say "No". If they were asked if they thought the Palestinians were being treated fairly by the international community, the answer would be the same. The launch of this latest attack on a defenceless civilian society should be of...

Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: The programme for Government includes a promise for the establishment of a State-controlled strategic investment bank. It was interesting to note the French introduced such an institution two weeks ago, which will pump €42 billion into small and medium-sized businesses. Is a State-controlled strategic investment bank still on the cards for the Government?

Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: It has been nearly two years.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made in the revaluation of the commercial rates system; when a review of commercial rates in County Wexford will be carried out; if, once completed, valuation of commercial properties will be based on 2005 rental values; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51611/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates (21 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider amending the Valuation (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 to include an ability to pay clause based on economic hardship and an appeals system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51612/12]

Other Questions: Third Level Sector Reform (20 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: With regard to improving efficiencies, some concern has been expressed by senior lecturers in UCD about the frequency with which firms like Arthur Cox have been employed. I note that legal services are listed as non-priority under EU public procurement directives, meaning many public bodies excuse themselves from running competitive tendering processes for legal services. Will a legally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Procurement Rules (20 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will set out the tendering process for the awarding of legal contracts by University College Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51333/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the cap on the number of special needs assistants in order to allow resources to be allocated on the basis of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51334/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Collection (15 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: Dr. Peter Bacon recommends that we do it through income tax. Imposing a tax rate of 50% on earned moneys above €100,000 would bring in €490 million annually,almost equal to what is expected to be raised by the property tax. Such a tax would be based on ability to pay, making it a fairer tax. I remind the Minister that in January 2011 Fine Gael stated it would raise revenue from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Collection (15 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the difficulties that so many persons here are facing in dealing with mortgage arrears and negative equity on their homes, if he will consider raising the anticipated property tax revenue from an alternative source such as an increase in income tax for those who can afford to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50479/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Collection (15 Nov 2012)

Mick Wallace: This is not a normal time in Ireland to try to introduce a property tax. In principle, in a healthy climate I would not have a problem with the notion of a property tax. However, we are approaching a figure of 400,000 homes in negative equity, including those in mortgage arrears. In addition, there are approximately 450,000 people unemployed, meaning about 150,000 households are affected by...